Chasing her Down

[Dai]

His eyes were focussed on two things right now. The feet on the ground and the floor that he was following. He knew exactly where he was going, and he knew exactly what he had to do. That look she'd given him, it had shattered him to the core. It had... he shook his head. No, he wasn't going to think about it now. He just needed her to know. His mind was not his own; his heart belonged to him still. No, that was wrong. His heart had never belonged to him. His heart... had always belonged to her. That was one thing he would never give up. THAT was the true reason why he could run after her like this. Because he truly loved her... his footsteps made loud noises in the corridors, the redhead following the other billow of red hair with wild yet forlorn eyes. He had to do this...

The door slammed before him, and he knew it. It was Reila's room, and he couldn't help it. He only just managed to stop himself, skidding to a halt before the door with soft sigh. Okay. Daigoro turned towards the door and raised his hand, preparing to knock. He... he moved his hand forwards for a single second, stopping the metallic fist with a grimace. Did he dare...? He could ruin so much... No, he had to do this. He brought the hand back again and knocked in a rhythm - specifically 'Girls Be Ambitious' by Miyavi. He went for a second or so, and instead of waiting for her to come to the door, he spoke loudly and clearly.

"You probably don't want to see or hear anything to do with me right now, Reila. But... I need to do something, right now. I need to do this before I lose you. Yes, I lied before. I did it, because I thought that I could possibly protect the one who actually gave me the Stone. But I know now that it was a foolish mistake, so I'm going to atone for it by doing this. Simply... telling the truth. I'm going to tell you my story, whether or not you listen." His eyes were closed and his forehead rested against the door. He waited for a second or two, before opening his mouth and speaking once more.

"But I will let you choose first, Reila. If you really and truly have no more wish to listen to me... then I will go, unwillingly. If you have no more love for me..." A chuckle emanated from his throat, "Then I'll understand. Because what I've done to all of Briggs doesn't deserve forgiveness, even if I thought that it was the right thing to do." He smiled and stood back from the door, waiting for something, anything. If she didn't speak, he would continue. If she spoke and told him to leave, then he'd do so. If she spoke and told him to continue... then he would continue.

[Reila Tsukino]

And through her sobs, she heard something. It was a rocking wooden noise that reverberated from the door and across walls to her starved ears. She pulled in a shaky breath, shoving the misery into the furthest reaches of her soul. She sat up on her bed and stared at the door listlessly, hoping that maybe--maybe whatever was there would just go away and leave her alone. She felt like a child then...as if she were the one that had done the wrong and was locked away in her room never to come out. Familiar saltwater smells assailed her, filling her nose with the damp recollection of all those days spent in dumpsters. Reila flopped back onto the bed, sinking her face into the pillow that smelled almost like home. This was the space that had become hers. The...unfamiliar familiarization of a place stayed in so long. This area was hers... She didn't grow up here, but it was where she slept and where she cried--where she changed and showered and read. This room belonged to the Head of Fort Briggs--a place that gave people chills, not from just from thinking of the temperature. An afterwar room to settle apart the pain and grief so much dying brought. She grabbed fistfuls of the thin mattress cover and threw her head in the direction of the locked door. His voice filtered in--a mess of meaning and consolation. She crawled to the edge of the bed and hung bare feet over to touch the carpet strewn with bloodstained clothes. She was so tired--so tired and yet...she felt like she could never sleep again.

"...Reila. I need to do this before I lose you. ...I lied before...protect... foolish mistake...I'm going to tell you my story, whether or not you listen."

Silence. The silence filled the room so quickly it was as if she had never experienced such a heavy lack of sound before. Strings of red hair sagged over her dense golden eyes. She didn't move, didn't think; just stared at the door as if it were the answer to all her problems she had ever had. Dai. Why was he even here? Go away she stuttered in her mind, barely pulling in each breath. She fell to the side and caught herself on a weak arm, turned her head away and feeling it build up anew. She just couldn't stop today...the rain wouldn't cease. If only...it would become snow. The voice came again, making her realize that she hadn't reacted as she normally would have. Who am I, she questioned, what have I become?

She couldn't listen to what he was saying. It wasn't working. She didn't understand because her Dai had disappeared. So who was this standing outside her door? Was her Dai even ever real to begin with? She nearly sobbed, letting out a loud gasp of air as her eyes plummeted onto the dead rose beside her bed. Dead. Gone. It wasn't even red anymore. All that was left...was a grey stem with protruding thorns--thorns that could still hurt. She reached hard to touch it, molesting the prick of pain and jabbing it into her finger until red dripped onto her sheets. The saddest expression filled her face, lips pouting into a raining funeral of black umbrellas and endless depression. She pulled away as if touching a stove for the first time, not realizing it was hot. She stared at the mini gash in her thumb and felt sick. Blood... Endless pools of thick red...that wasn't water; it was life. The metallic smell of morose death and garish tones of dark green made brown. No waking up. And her memories...back with a single look that had separated truth from facade. And he was gone, but he was there. She knew him, but still felt like she didn't. She thought about starting over, but he was there too... The man she hadn't liked when she met him. The cruel, uncaring bastard that stole people's souls, but asked for her heart. Just take it. It was useless anyway...useless without him. But he was here now...standing before her door, spouting crappy words that barely held any of the emotions running rampant through her. It was all falling down--the empire of snow forged by friendship and love. What kept them warm...what kept them all together. What it worth it anymore?

And she wanted to just let it go--let it fly away into the blizzard ravaging outside. But... The teachings of her sensei sometimes fell on deaf ears that dreamed of a better world. Maybe to let it go would be bad. The downfall of a nation's strongest point... the cascadal of forgotten bonds. She wanted to cling to them--to hold them close and tell the world it would be okay because she was still here. Memories were flighty things anyway; they didn't need them to go on. People played cruel tricks and not even that could stand in their way, but it had. It had. It so had that she was sitting here but a shell of who she was. Every impulse to run to the door and throw it open was gouged out by the pain of the thorn in her finger. The bloody footprints leading from the locked door told her she couldn't betray them. The ceiling was better to look at. Plain, blank, a new slate to fill with whatever she pleased. But flashes of red eyes filled it, watching her. That voice...that voice that sung to her.

"Do you really think I'd betray you? I love you. I've always loved you. In fact, there is nothing that I would hate MORE than betraying you."

"Yes," she pushed out. She had thought that. And he did betray Briggs. Why...would he leave her? She fell off the bed before she realized she had leaned forward too far. A loaded thump resounded through the room. She sat there on her knees, dumbfounded and then threw her face into her hands, silently sobbing. He left. That was all that mattered. All that mattered...all that mattered. Her hands found her tachi on the bedside table in its stand. Clammy hands clasped it and discarded the sheath for nothing more than it was. She raised it blindly and threw it at the door. She couldn't yell anymore...curse...scream...wail... It was gone. Just the silence remained. The silence that strangled her pain. The blade slid halfway through the door from the force of her strength, waving violently from the sudden give of the wood. She crawled across the floor and stopped in front of the door only when her head thunked against it. She shut her eyes and didn't want to open them. "Go away." And in the end, all she wanted was to throw the door open and hug him until the world ended.

[Dai]

"Yes," She... he couldn't help but recoil slightly, staring at the door through a pair of determined and yet frustrated eyes. She had actually thought.. that he would betray her? She had actually THOUGHT THAT?! No, he wasn't just remorseful anymore. He was completely frustrated. Not with her, but with himself. Had he not shown her enough love to prove that he would never truly betray her? Had never not proven time and time again that he was forever on her side? Was it... was it all for naught? Red eyes widened ever-so-slightly, and then closed, the redhead leaning forwards and hitting the door with his head and a slight groan. That... kinda hurt.

A loud thump made him jump and recoil again, wondering what it could be. Inquisitive orbs stared at the door for a few more seconds, before another sound rang out, the sound of something hitting the door, and... shit. She was throwing things at him, and there was a blade sticking out of the door just inches from his head. That would... that would normally make him just give up, leave, go away. He laughed softly and opened a pair of somber lips to whisper cool words to himself.

"I can't..." He placed his metallic palm against the door and gritted his teeth, staring at the wooden slab that separated him and the woman that he would love now and forever. He loved her completely, right? Right. He wasn't planning on leaving. He had never planned on walking away. If anything, her telling him to leave would be the one thing that made him stay. And as he listened for anything else in the room, another 'thunk' hit the door, and a voice came, closer this time. It seemed that she was now right in front of the door.

"Go away." He looked away from the door for a few seconds, thinking it over. She told him to leave. If he stayed, that weapon might not miss next time. But if he left, then he'd lose her forever. What to choose...

"You're worth that risk to my life..." A small whisper, and Daigoro took a few steps back. He reached into one of his pockets, and brought out a small white glove; his pyrotex glove that had been specially modified in order to be able to hold a magnetic charge for his Alchemy. He could've just kicked the door down, but he risked hitting her, and he didn't need to do that... so instead, he would simply destroy the lock. As the glove fitted over his hand, he clicked the fingers on this left hand three or four times, looking at the door with a pair of eyes that were both cold and remorseful.

I'll pay for damages. He placed long fingers on the doorknob and gritted his teeth, activating his Alchemy and magnetizing the lock inside to the point of instability. It was only a small explosion, one that wouldn't cause much damage, but it had done everything that Dai needed it too, as he swung the door out in his direction and opened it in front of him.

There she was. Right before him, huddled on the ground, looking a mess. He gritted his teeth and knelt down, lunging forwards and throwing his arms around her as well as he could, closing his eyes and holding her close to him. He had her and he wouldn't let go, not now, not ever. For a silent few seconds her held her, with trembling arms. And then... he finally opened his lips to speak, simply pouring his heart out to her, not choosing his words anymore.

"Foolish girl. I've already told you that I wouldn't betray you. Never completely, never properly. It was all for you, you know? I left Briggs... with the hope that I'd be able to bring you back in the end. I even had the support of some of Briggs on my side... Xan, Nikita, Jericho... They helped me get into Creta, and gain Dietrich's trust. And Xan helped me the most... because Xan gave me the Stone that helped break it, the shit that happened to my mind. I don't know if you realize this Reila, but," He took a deep breath to regain his energy, and started to speak again, "They fucked with my head. Forced me to see Briggs as an enemy against my will. (A soft chuckle) And then I saw you. And I remembered why I'd gone to Creta in the first place, Reila. Because it was all. for. you." His eyes were closed, and his arms were wrapped tightly around her. Those words might make her feel worse, but they might also do some good. So as he held her tightly, he finished his statement.

"You are my everything, Reila Tsukino. My everything... and more."

[Reila Tsukino]

The door exploded inward, jolting her from whatever misery she was drowning in. Thick wood no longer supported her head and she began to fall forwards, stopping herself by throwing her hands out onto the rug. She sucked in a quick breath and slid open her eyes, worried about just what she might see. And there was Dai...blowing up her door. Because you know locks didn't mean anything or anything and the clear-cut phrase: "Go away" had no power here. No, not at all. Because Dai could walk through walls and was selectively deaf. She almost smiled, but frowned instead, opening her mouth to yell at him. What if she was changing or something? That was taking it too far... Blowing up doors and stuff... Who did that?! Her door! Busted! She blinked and suddenly tremoring arms slithered around her, one heavier than the other. Reila's heart stopped in her throat, fingers digging into the carpet. Oh god it was Dai.

"Foolish girl." W-what...? She winced, golden eyes shimmering as waters of emotion clashed together, spilling out. "I've already told you that I wouldn't betray you." But he did! He...did... "Never completely, never properly." And he came crawling back after all that. After all that...here he was. What did he think he was doing!? "It was all for you, you know? I left Briggs... with the hope that I'd be able to bring you back in the end." How could he bring her back if she was already there?! He made the mistake of leaving her alone. What did he think her reaction would be? Instead of Dai, she would stare at the rose by her beside and wonder why she felt that way towards of rose of all things. She knew something was missing, but they all kept it from her. They tip-toed around her like she would lose it if she knew. That was what truly hurt. That was why she just...couldn't stop crying. That was why she almost wished Dietrich had killed her when he had the chance. But now...they were allied against RIOTE... Reila realized that he mind had wandered and snapped back to what Dai was saying. "...the shit that happened to my mind. I don't know if you realize this Reila, but, they fucked with my head. Forced me to see Briggs as an enemy against my will. And then I saw you. And I remembered why I'd gone to Creta in the first place, Reila. Because it was all. for. you."

"I don't--"

"You are my everything, Reila Tsukino. My everything... and more."

"I don't care if it was for me or not. The fact remains that you left me, Dai. Alone...having no idea. I thought we were a team, but you just had to go off and do it all on your own." She moved out of his grip and yanked his eyes open with her lustrous, golden stare. She bore into his soul, letting her own fall out from where it was hidden from all the others. All of them. "It was my cousin. Harumi Tsukino... She was the one who did it. To both of us. And I don't know why. All I know is that she is no longer alive. Aerugo is in turmoil because of it..." Reila was also worried about it--terrified that her secret would leak out...that they would know. To know would endanger not only her position in Amestris, but also the trust of her men. She decided suddenly that she wouldn't use Aerugese again least she be found out by her fluency. Dai already knew she was Aerugese, but...the golden eyes of the previous emperor that she bore were a giveaway. Contacts? She bit her lip. It was a problem... She had researched late into the night about her family, trying to match the fuzzy memories in head with the pictures on the screen. Harumi had been on the of last survivors of the royal family... Why were so few left now? There had to be somet-- Dai. Focus.

She puffed out air and flipped red hair behind her ear. "Don't do that again." Reila stood up and took a few steps towards her bathroom. "I'm taking a shower"

[EXIT TOPIC]

[Just be REALLY affectionate to her and she'll come around]

[Dai]

"I don't care if it was for me or not. The fact remains that you left me, Dai. Alone...having no idea. I thought we were a team, but you just had to go off and do it all on your own." They held their gaze for seconds on end. She didn't know. She didn't know what he'd gone through. She had been here, in Fort Briggs, absolutely fine, surrounded by familiar people, and a man that was devoted completely to her... and he... he had been fearing for his life, for his future. He had even... A small gulp. He'd even let himself get to the point where he'd lost his way.

"I..." He closed his mouth and left the words inside the back of his mind. No, there was no need to explain himself right now. At this point in time, he was thinking only of how things could go from here. He had apologized, given his reasoning... and he was prepared to show Reila exactly how much he wanted to return to her. She didn't know. She didn't know... she didn't know... she had no idea. His lips opened in an "o" shape, holding their position for a single second as Reila began to speak again..

"It was my cousin. Harumi Tsukino... She was the one who did it. To both of us. And I don't know why. All I know is that she is no longer alive. Aerugo is in turmoil because of it..." His eyes snapped open at this. Harumi... Tsukino... Daigoro looked to the side and though this through. So that was the name of the girl who took Reila away from him. He let a small, guttural chuckle rise from his throat, and his metallic fingers moved to the ground and traced a small circle around a spare bolt. There was no need to think on that anymore. There was no need for revenge, for revenge changed nothing.

"Don't do that again." He was shocked back into looking at Reila, his mind moving from his rambling notions on betrayal, and moving into thoughts about her again. His eyes meandered around her face, not losing sight of her at all. And as she stood up and turned away, Daigoro chuckled, and looked back up at her, not moving from his position.

"Red... it's quite the beautiful color on you. It brings out the strength that I've always loved, and yet retains the softness that made me fall in love with you." He placed a hand on the ground and pushed off, slowly getting to his feet and raising his head to look at the window. "Then I shall no longer bother you. I'm sorry... for breaking the door, Reila. I'll make sure to get it repaired, alright?" He proffered a benevolent and calming smile, before turning away from her and staring out into the corridor for a second, hesitating. Why did he hesitate just then? Dai resisted the urge to look back over his shoulder at the woman, but did anyway, casting a sideways glance at her before walking out of the room, not sure if that was going to be the last time... or not. He chuckled softly, as he heard something shatter in the back of his mind. Maybe that... No.

"I won't let negative thoughts drag me down.. Reila Tsukino," His voice was breathy and whispered, dissipating into a mist before his face, "I won't let you go..."

[Thread LEFT]

{-chuckles- Affectionate, huhn?}

[Sponsored content]